MobilityWorks is Proud to Support Operation Injured Soldiers

Founded in 2005, Operation Injured Soldiers is a nonprofit organization in Michigan that provides recreation opportunities to wounded veterans. Their mission is to thank heroes for their sacrifices and help get them back into sports and hobbies they enjoyed prior to deployment. Last month, the group took their annual Muskie fishing trip and a few members from MobilityWorks tagged along for the excursion.

MobilityWorks Chief Financial Officer and avid fisherman Gerhard Schmidt first got involved with Operation Injured Soldier five years ago. Their shared passions for the outdoors and helping America’s veterans made for the perfect partnership. Schmidt attended the annual fishing trip for years, but this time he was unable to attend. However, fellow MobilityWorks employees, Brett Meals and Alex Kyger, were happy to fill in!

Gerhard Schmidt said “It has been an honor watching this event grow into what it has become knowing that it provides wonderful benefits to our Veterans. What could be better than spending a day with the heroes of our country fishing?” The annual trip has grown to include over 30 boats (several of them wheelchair accessible) and 100 participants. All of the proceeds for the event go to the Brave Hearts Estate, an over 200-acre farm that was donated to Operation Injured Soldiers. Throughout the year, they host several events at the farm, and the lodge there also offers free lodging to Veterans and their families.

On September 18th, the group set sail on Lake St Clair just East of Detroit. Alex and Brett were paired with two retired Veterans and their boat had a very successful day. They caught 7 Muskies in total with three of them coming in at over 40 inches! The evening concluded with a dinner at the Grosse Point Yacht Club. It was a great day of fishing, and most importantly the event raised over $100,000 towards helping America’s heroes.